The Five Great Vows, or mahavratas, in Jainism are ahimsa (non-violence), satya (truthfulness), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (celibacy) and aparigraha (non-possession). Jain monks and nuns undertake these vows in their strict form, while lay followers observe more limited versions called anuvratas, or small vows.
What Each Vow Requires
| Vow | Meaning and expression in conduct |
|---|---|
| Ahimsa | Non-violence towards all living beings. Observance includes careful movement and food choices to minimize harm, including harm to small organisms. |
| Satya | Truthfulness. Adherents avoid falsehood and speech that causes harm, linking truthful communication with non-violence. |
| Asteya | Non-stealing. Adherents do not take anything that has not been freely given. |
| Brahmacharya | Celibacy for monks and nuns. Lay observance generally involves sexual restraint and marital fidelity. |
| Aparigraha | Non-possession and non-attachment. Monastics renounce possessions extensively; lay followers limit possessions and attachment to wealth. |
Why the Vows Matter
Jains understand the human condition as samsara, the cycle of birth, death and rebirth. The jiva, or conscious soul, becomes bound by karma, understood in Jainism as subtle material particles rather than simply moral consequences. Karma belongs to ajiva, the category of non-living reality.
Actions influenced by passions and attachment sustain this bondage. Observing the vows disciplines thought, speech and action, helping prevent further karmic influx. Alongside asceticism, disciplined practices of renunciation, this supports the removal of accumulated karma and progress towards moksha, liberation from karmic bondage and rebirth.
The misconception that every Jain follows identical restrictions is incorrect. Both Digambara and Shvetambara traditions uphold the vows, but their monastic practices differ, particularly concerning clothing and permitted possessions.
IB Exam Technique
For Part 1, connect the vows to both “What is the human condition?” and “How do we get there?” In an Explain response, develop the link from karmic bondage to disciplined conduct and liberation, using a specific practice rather than merely listing the vows.